Mideast situation – UNTSO – Report on the status of the cease-fire

Further report on the status of the cease-fire

in the Middle East

The Acting Chief of Staff of UNTSO has submitted the following report on developments in the Israel-Lebanon sector during September 1975.

1. Activity in the Israel-Lebanon sector remained relatively high during the first half of the period under review, but decreased slightly during the second half.  Activity was primarily localized in the western part of the sector throughout the period.

2. Israel forces personnel continued to occupy daily, during daylight hours, five positions on the Lebanese side of the armistice demarcation line (ADL) near border pillars 11 (AMR 1799-2788), 1/ l4 (AMR 1838-2734) (except on 2, 6, 9 and 23-26 September), 18 (AMR 1880-2740), 19 (AMR 1907-2749) and 33 (AMR 2004-2904.

3. There were 101 cases of firing across the ADL or across the line between Lebanon and Israel-occupied Syrian territory, three of which involved an exchange of fire. There were also seven crossing violations. These were reported as follows :

(a) OP Lab (AMR 1643-2772), south of the village of Labouna, reported mortar fire on 4, 11, 24 and 25 September, artillery fire on 8-10 September and automatic-weapons fire on 27 September, all by Israel forces.  It also reported exchanges of fire involving, on 13 September, automatic-weapons and small-arms fire between Israel forces and unidentified forces west north-west of the OP and, on 26 September, automatic-weapons and small-arms fire between Israel forces and unidentified forces east of the OP. United Nations military observers were unable to determine which side initiated the fire on either occasion.

(b) OP Hin (AMR 1770-2790), east of the village of Marouahine, reported artillery fire on 1-3, 5-11, 13, 16, 18, 23, 25 and 26 September, automatic-weapons fire on 1, 3, 4, 6, 9-11, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 25-27 and 29 September, mortar fire on 5, 9, 11, 14 and 21 September, small-arms fire on 5 September and flares on 11 and 26 September, all by Israel forces.  It also reported an exchange of automatic-weapons fire on 2 September between Israel forces and unidentified forces east north-east of the OP, initiated by the unidentified forces.

(c) OP Ras (AMR 1920-2785), south-east of the village of Maroun Er Ras , reported artillery fire on 3, 9, l4 , 16, 17, 26, 28 and 29 September, automatic weapons fire on 3 and 13 September, mortar fire on 9, 17 and 25 September and flares on 13 September, all by Israel forces.

(d) OP Mar (AMR 1998-2921), south-east of the village of Markaba, reported mortar fire on 5 and 26 September and artillery fire on 7 and 12 September, all by Israel forces.

(e) OP Khiam (AMR 2071-3025), south of the village of El Khiam, reported artillery fire on 4 and 7 September and mortar fire on 13 and 14 September, all by Israel forces.

(f) An UNTSO mobile patrol, while located in the vicinity of Rachaiya El Foukhar (AMR 2127-3065), reported that Israel forces artillery fire impacted within 50 metres of the patrol on k September. There were no injuries to United Nations personnel or damage to United Nations material.  It also reported crossing violations by Israel forces in the vicinity of Chebaa (AMR 2200-3055) on 1, 15-17, 19, 27 and 29 September (maximum penetration 900 metres in each instance).

4.  There were 26 overflights observed during the period. Overflights by Israel forces jet aircraft were reported on 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 1^, 18, 21, 23-25 and 27 September (one each day), and on 11, 16 and 17 September (two each day) and on 26 September (three overflights). Two overflights by Israel forces light aircraft were reported on 14 September.  Overflights by unidentified jet aircraft were reported on 17 and 25 September (one each day). United Nations military observers were unable to identify the aircraft owing to hazy weather conditions.

5.  The Lebanese authorities submitted 80 complaints during the period under review as follows:

(a) Forty-three complaints were submitted alleging that Israel forces fire had fallen on Lebanese territory on 1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 11-14, 18, 19, 21-24 and 26-30 September (one complaint each day), on 31 August, 7, 10, 15-17, 20 and 25 September (two complaints each day), on 4 September (three complaints) and on 2 September (four complaints).  Twenty-three of these complaints were confirmed by United Nations observation, except for damage.

(b) Twenty-five complaints concerned Israel forces jet aircraft overflights on 31 August, 2, 3, 5, 7-9, 11, 12, 14, 18, 21, 23-25 and 27-30 September (one complaint each day) and on l6, 17 and 26 September (two complaints each day). Eighteen of these complaints were confirmed.

(c) Four complaints concerned Israel forces helicopter or light aircraft overflights on 13, 14, 18 and 25 September. One of these complaints was confirmed.

(d) Five complaints were submitted alleging that Israel forces naval vessels penetrated Lebanese territorial waters on 31 August and on 5, 7, 8 and 27 September.  None of the complaints was confirmed.

(e) Two complaints were submitted alleging that Israel forces jet aircraft attacked with bombs and rockets, on 2 September, the village of Abou Qamah 2120-3095)j causing material damage and, on 11 September, the town of Bourghliye (AMR 1728-3018), causing the death of two persons, injury to eight arsons and material damage. The complaints were not confirmed (the areas of the alleged incidents are outside the range of United Nations observation).

(f) In addition, one complaint was submitted with a request that an inquiry into it be conducted by United Nations military observers. The inquiry has been f dealt with in a special report (see S/ll663/Add.l5).

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I/ AMR – approximate map reference 75-19799